Container



Aug. 1, 1939. 4 H. A. FINK ET AL 2,168,097

CONTAINER Filed 001;. 7, 1957 .71 laz M Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES CONTAINER Henry A. Fink, Pelham Manor, and john Haycock, Larchmont, N. Y., assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 7, 1937, Serial No. 167,818 1 Claim. (01. 220-54) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers, and more particularly to improvements in hermetically sealed sheet metal containers which are adapted to be opened with keys.

An object of the invention is to provide a container of the above type having a scored portion which is integral with the container and which may be easily removed by the usual form of slotted can-opening key, thus obviating the necessity of providing a protruding tongue on the container and of employing any special form of key.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of the above type having an integral removable scored portion shaped to include a tongue which may be easily raised for permitting the attachment thereto of the usual form of slotted can-opening key.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of the above type having a recess located adjacent the score line at one end of the tongue for conveniently locating a key or other instrument by which the recessed portion may be depressed inwardly of the container to permit the tongue to be raised for the attachment of a key.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container of the above type wherein the tongue is so shaped that a portion of the container is disposed between the score lines defining the edges of the tongue whereby that portion of the container may be depressed to permit the tongue to be conveniently raised for the attachment of a key.

The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious, and will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view showing the top of a container provided with score lines defining one form of tongue by which the section within the score lines may be removed for opening the container.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing more clearly the form of tongue illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, in section, showing the manner in which the tongue of Figure 1 is raised to permit the attachment of a can-opening key.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the side or body wall of a container provided with score lines defining a modified form of tongue."

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view show-j ing more clearly the form of tongue illustrated-in Figure 5.

In hermetically canning various food products; it is desirable to provide a container which may be easily opened without the use of specially constructed opening instruments. According to the present invention, there is provided a'container 10 which maybe readily opened by the usual form of slotted can-opening key without the necessity of having a tongue projecting from 'any p'art' of the container. To this end, a portion of the con tainer is scored to provide a removable section which includes a tongue, the entire removable section including the tongue being integral with the container. The tongue is so shaped and scored that it may be easily forced outwardlyof the container after a portion of the score line has been broken to permit the attachment of the usual form of slotted can-opening key. In one form of the invention, a portion of the container outside of the score line may be forced inwardly of the container to permit the convenient raising of the tongue which is immediately adjacent thereto. In another form of the invention, a relatively small portion of the tongue, itself, may be forced inwardly of the container to permit the remaining portion of the tongue to be raised so that the usual form of key may be attached thereto.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 through 4, a sheet metal container I0, is illustrated asbeing provided with a can end H which is double seamed, as at I2, to the body wall of the container. The end II is provided with a score line l3 which defines a relatively wide section and also a relatively narrow integral tongue portion 40 I4. Thus, as shown, the tongue l4 and the remaining portion of the removable section are integral with the can end ll so that no protruding or separate tongue need be employed. A portion l3a of the score line I3 is disposed within 45 the tongue l4 and defines spaced arcuate fingers I la on the tongue and an intermediate arcuate portion Ha on the can end II. The portion Ila is depressed immediately adjacent thescore line I 3a so as to provide a recess 15.

In order to open the container illustrated in Figures 1 through 4, the end of a key or other blunt instrument is properly located by the insertion thereof in the recess IS. The key is then forced inwardly of the container so as to break 65 the usual manner to remove the entire section defined by the score line I3.

A slightly modified form of tongue is shown.

in Figures and 6. In Figure 5, the removable section is illustrated as being disposed on the body wall of the container, butit is to be clearly understood that either form of the removable section may be applied either to the end of the container or to the body wall thereof. -In this modified form of tongue, a score line 23 defines a removable strip which terminates in a narrow tongue 24- having a small projecting portion 24a extending beyond the end thereof. The removable strip, the tongue 24 and the projecting portion 24a are'integral with one another and with the wall of the container. The portion 24a is depressed to provide a recess 25 disposed within the score line 23 defining the limits thereof. When it is desired to open a container employing the tongue shown in Figures5 and 6, the end of the key or other instrument is placed in the recess '25 and then forced inwardly of the container to break the score line 23a around the projecting portion 24a. Thus, the projecting portion 24a. is depressed into the container and the tongue 24 may then be easily shifted outwardly of the container to facilitate the attachment of the usual form of slotted can opening key.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that an efiicient and easily opened container is herewith provided. The removable section and the tongue are integral with one another and with the container so that no protruding tongue is necessary. A recess is provided adjacent the score line .at one end of the tongue for locating the usual form of slotted key so that pressure may be applied to the recess, thus forcing this portion of the container inwardly so that one 'end of the tongue can be pried outwardly of the container. When one end of the tongue has been raised, the key may be applied thereto and turned in the usual manner for opening the container.

It is to be clearly understood that minor changes in the detail of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

We claim:

A container provided with a removable section defined by score lines in one of the walls thereof and including a tongue integral with the wall of the container, said tongue having finger portions defined by the score line, and the wall of said container having a depressed portion between the said finger portions on the tongue located immediately adjacent the score line at the end of the tongue for properly locating an opening instrument, and said depressed portion adapted to be shifted inwardly of the container to break the adjacent score line whereby the finger portions on the tongue can be pried outwardly of the container to thus permit the attachment of the opening instrument.

HENRY A. FINK. JOHN HAYCOCK. 

